Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Positives
Negatives
Despite containing some poor writing in places, overall, Throne of Glass is an incredible first instalment to a series. You are eased in slowly to the diverse and complex world with a simple but exciting storyline of a protagonist whose main aim is to become the champion of a tournament which then hints at secrets and betrayals leading you into the underlying storyline which takes off in the next instalment of the series, Crown of Midnight.
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The story opens with the main character, 18 year old assassin Celaena Sardothien, having spent a year in the most feared prison in Endovier. She is being taken to the capital where the Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard has an offer for her. Celaena is to represent the Prince in a tournament against some of the empire’s best assassins, sword men and warriors, all of which have their own sponsor from the Kings council in the tournament. If she can beat her opponents in a series of eliminations then she will become the Kings Champion and personal Assassin. After three years of servitude to the King, Celaena will can finally be able to reclaim her freedom. The only drawback is that this King is the one who eradicate her homeland and in turn set the course for the life that has led her to this current predicament.
The story is rich in history and culture, ten years have passed since the King banned magic and slaughtered many of the Fae from Celaena’s homeland starting his quest to overthrow all Royal families. The author offers detailed imagery of the world, easily transporting you into the realm of Erilea and the land of Celaena’s adventures. Celaena’s history is hinted at throughout the book but never fully delved into, giving her an air of mystery. However, if you really want to understand more of her past and personality then there are four short novellas which explain Celaena’s adventures leading up to her capture but it is not necessary to read these in order to understand and enjoy this book.
Throne of Glass offers a strong female protagonist, who is a well-known and feared 18 year old assassin, and also happens to love make-up and dressing up. This makes the character of Celaena a lot easier to relate too for many young readers and shows that a teenage girl can still be girly and a merciless fighter.
The story is told primarily from Celaena’s point of view, however it does offer some insight to the perspective of both the crown prince Dorian and the captain of the guard Chaol. This allows readers to see a different outlook on the events occurring as well Celaena herself, and slowly allows readers to get to know them as each become more important and start on their own storyline. The relationship between these three characters become more intricate as the story progresses and can be perceived as the start of a romantic plotline with a love triangle, which for older readers can be boring and embarrassing.
Overall, Throne of Glass is an incredible first instalment to a series. You are eased in slowly to the diverse and complex world with a simple but exciting storyline of a protagonist whose main aim is to become the champion of a tournament which then hints at secrets and betrayals leading you into the underlying storyline which takes off in the next instalment of the series, Crown of Midnight.
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